Process for printing on cloth



May 20, 1941.

R. F. FOARD 2,242,295

PROCESS FOR PRINTING 0N CLOTH Filed Jan. 20., 1939 flag 1/ INVENTOR lira-.9

BY Reamer F FoA/eo A T ORNEY Patented May 20, 1941 UNITED v TATES PATENT QFFICE 2,242,295

PROCESS FGR PRINTING ON CLOTH Robert F. Foard, Los Angeles, Calif. Application January 20, 1939, Serial No. 251,958

3 Claims.

My invention relates to process for printing on cloth and. among the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a process of printing on cloth which employs both press printing and screen printing in such a manner as to utilize to the fullest extent the advantages inherent in each type of printing; that is, fine detail and halftone effects obtainable only with press printing may be had in combination with comparatively large, uniformly covered areas obtainable only by screen printing.

Second, to provide a process of this character which includes simple but effective means of obtaining accurate registry of the different colors that may be applied by both press and screen printing operations.

Third, to provide a process of this character which is particularly suited for multiple color printing on cloth articles such as handkerchiefs, scarfs, napkins, table cloths and the like.

Fourth, to provide a process of this character which materially increases the design effects obtainable on cloth.

vWith the above and other objects in View as may appear hereinafter, reference is made to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a conventional printing press platen illustrating the manner in which the cloth is presented to the printing dies.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a screen printing frame and associated equipment.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view through 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figures 4 through 6 illustrate steps in the process of printing on an article such as a handkerchief or scarf; Figure 4 illustrates a backing member upon which an initial impression of the design has been press-printed; Figure 5 illustrates the succeeding step in which the cloth is placed over the backing member and likewise press-printed; Figure 6 illustrates a succeeding step in which certain areas are dyed by a screen printing operation.

In carrying out my process of printing on cloth, a substantially conventional printing press such as used to print on paper may be used. Preferably a platen press is used. Because of the materially great absorbing qualities of the cloth, particularly linen, it is preferable to make several impressions in order that the requisite quantity of dye is applied. Accurate registry not only between the several impressions but also between the several colors that might be used is of primary importance. This is accomplished by utilizing a backing sheet preferably of cardboard which is somewhat larger than the area of cloth to be printed. The backing sheet designated I is placed on the platen 2 of a the printing press and alined by conventional stops or pins 3 along the lower edge and one side.

Thereupon one or more impressions is made directly on the backing sheet and while the dye is still wet the cloth 4 is placed thereover. If the design covers most of the cloth the dye itself holds the cloth in position. However, if the design be in one corner or merely in the middle, small spots of paste 5 may be applied to the upper corners of the backing sheet, or if these corners be outside the margins of the finished article, the printing plate or die bearing the design may be provided with portions which so apply the dye.

The cloth is preferably applied to the backing while the backing is still in the printing machine. Immediately a succeeding impression or several impressions are made until the requisite quantity of dye is applied. Some of the dye applied to the backing is also absorbed by the cloth so that the back as well as the front side of the cloth is dyed thus minimizing the difference in appearance of the two sides. This alone is of primary importance particularly in single color printing. After the cloth is once attached to the cardboard backing it can be handled as a sheet of paper. The cardboard separates the cloth so that the cloth may be stacked as it is printed with little or no danger of damaging the design. If several colors are to be applied, the first color selected is one that is well scattered throughout the design to insure the best contact of the cloth with the backing; for example in printing a fiower the outline of the petals 6, leaves and veins, etc., may be made by the first printing. By subsequent impressions with the press using different colors, the petals and leaves may be filled in with colors. Quite accurate detail may be had by my press printing process; in fact, half-tones and various shading effects may be obtained and one color blended into another. Thus, the natural shadings and color variations of the petals of the flower may be represented with almost the fidelity of multiple color printing on paper. The cardboard backing insure as accurate registry of the difierent colors as is obtainable in printing on paper.

While fine detail half-tone and shading efiects may be obtained by the press printing process described above, it is practically impossible to apply a uniform coating of dye over large areas; particularly if deep or intense colors are desired. Such uniform coating may be obtained by screen printing, but fine detail is utterly impossible. By combining the advantages of press printing and screen printing very desirable effects unattainable with either alone are accomplished.

The equipment for the screen printing steps may be quite simple. A table II is provided on which is provided an L-shaped stop I2. At the back of the table is a plate I3 which is adapted to be clamped to the table by a vise M. A conventional screen printing frame I5 is joined by hinges [6 to the plate I3. The hinges l6 have removable hinge pins I! so that the frame l5 may be readily connected or removed from the plate. Stretched over the underside of the frame IS in a conventional manner is a screen l8 of silk on which has been formed permeable areas l9 through which dye is forced and impervious areas 20 coated to protect the portions of the design printed in the press printing operation In this case the area embraced by the flower is impervious While the remaining area is permeable so that the entire background may be colored.

The backing with the press printed cloth thereon is positioned against the stop l2. The plate l3 and frame I5 is adjusted until the screen [8 is in registry. Thereupon the vise is tightened. After such adjustment for one backing member, the screen printing process may proceed on the other backing members and cloth thereon, previously press-printed. By reason of the removable hinge pins different screen printing frames may be used and more than one color applied by the screen process. This consists in squeeging or working the dye through the screen onto the cloth.

After the press and screen printing processes are completed the cloth is removed from the cardboard and chemically processed to develop and fix the dye.

For purposes of illustration the design shown is extremely simple and only one step of press and screen printing indicated, it being understood that additional steps of press and screen printing may be added as desired to execute the design contemplated. Actually very complex and intricate designs may be printed effectively, designs which are virtually impossible of execution with eitherthe press or screen printing processes alone.

Though I have shown and described a particular process of multiple color printing on cloth, I do not wish to be limited thereto but desire to include in the scope of my invention the processes embraced in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A process of printing on cloth characterized by: making an initial dye impression on a relatively stiff backing member; applying cloth thereover and making subsequent dye impressions of the cloth whereby the cloth is caused to adhere and to receive an imprint from said backing member; press printing additional colors on said cloth while said cloth adheres to said backing member; then screen printing on said cloth to cover certain portions thereof uniformly.

2. A process of printing on cloth characterized by: press printing an initial dye impression on a relatively stiff backing member; placing a cloth thereover and repeating the impression on said cloth whereby the cloth is caused to adhere to and receive an imprint from said backing member, said impressions constituting the more detailed elements of the design being printed; then screen printing on said cloth to cover certain portions thereof uniformly.

3. A process of printing on cloth, characterized by: applying sufficient dye having adhesive characteristics to a cloth and a relatively stiff backing member to cause the cloth to adhere to said backing member for subsequent handling; screen dye printing certain areas to effect uniform color distribution thereover; and press dye printing other areas to effect non-uniform color distribution thereover, said cloth being adhered to said backing member in the course of one of said printing steps.

ROBERT F. FOARD. 

